A Cognitive Study on the Translation of Conceptual Metaphorical ESWIS - A Case Study of the Chinese Translation of 1984 by George Orwell

Abstract

Due to the differences in conscious tendencies of the relat ionship between human beings and objects, the habit of using inanimate subjects of Chinese and English speaker is different. English sentences with inanimate subjects (ESWIS) bring difficult ies for Chinese translation for it combines the usage of inanimate subjects and conceptual metaphors. This paper illustrates the usage of subjects and metaphors in ESWIS translation. It focuses on the interpretation of Conceptual Metaphorical ESWIS and makes analyses from the conceptual metaphor view. It is a case study which samples Conceptual Metaphorical ESWIS in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. It illustrates translation of Conceptual Metaphorical ESWIS with subjects “voice” “fear” “courage” “smile” in the whole corpus and explains translation decisions based on conceptual metaphors of this subjects. The research has two major findings: firstly, the universal existence of sentences with inanimate subjects in both Chinese and English can be exp lained either using direct description or through metaphors; Secondly, given the conscious tendencies of Chinese and English speakers in the relationship between human beings and objects , as well as how they use metaphors, the Chinese translation of ESWIS may use either animate subjects or inanimate subjects. It then subsequently may adopt the same or d ifferent conceptual metaphors compared with those in English, or just give direct descriptions to clarify the meanings. This paper provides practical and theoretical references for the translation of Conceptual Metaphorical ESWIS. Keyword English Sentences with Inanimate Subjects (ESWIS), Inanimate Subject, Conceptual Metaphor, Translation, Cognitive Perspective, the Novel 1984